Steam controlling system



April 16, 1935. A. LUTH STEAM CONTROLLING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 10, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet 1 S R Y 3 M WW R v m m A W m I I. IHHH. Q

April 16, 1935. A. LUTH STEAM CONTROLLING SYSTEM 'Filed Sept. 10/ 1952 3Sheets-Sheet 2 m. MW u 4 W m A ATTORNEYS I April 16, 1935. I A. LUTH1,998,282

STEAM CONTROLLINGSYSTEM 42 INVENTOR Aer/Jae 407M Patented Apr. 16, 193517 a 1,998,282.

UNlTED- b-TATES PATENT OFFICE Y STEAM CONTROLLING SYSTEM Arthur Luth,Astoria, N. Y. Application September-10, 1932, Serial N0.63 2,554 sename (01.137 79) This invention relates to steam heating sy s scribedand particularly pointed out in the claims, tems and more particularlyto steam heating systhe advantages of which will be readily under; ternswhich are supplied with steam at relatively stoodand appreciated bythose skilled in the art high pressures and are automatic in theiroperato which the invention pertains.

tion. 7 I e t The invention will be clearly understood from 5 One objectof the present invention is toimthe accompanying drawings illustratingthe inprove the construction and mode of operation of vention in apreferred form and the following steam heating systems, particularly ofthe type detailed description of the constructions therein in which thesource of supply is steam at appreshown.

l0 ciably higher pressures'than is practicable for use In the drawings:in the radiating units and to provide mechanism Figure 1 is afragmentary vertical sectional view which will effect a highly'economical distribuofha building, illustrating a steam heating systionof steamin suflicientvolumeto maintain any tem constructed in accordancewith'the present desired temperature inthe areas'affected by theinvention, a

l5 radiating units. u j 1 j Figure 2 is an enlarged view in elevation,partly A featureof the invention resides in a novel in section of thecontrol portionof the system, arrangement of parts whereby steam fromahigh Figure 3 is a View in end elevation of one of pressure source isintroduced atj'high pressurein the control elements of the system,

rapidly intermittent pulsations into a low pressure Figure 4 is asectional view on an enlarged scale,

system or branch which includes the heating taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3, 20"

units, the intermittency of the pulsations" being Figure 5 is asectional view on 1 an enlarged determinecl'by' the "building up ofpressure toa' scale taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, and;

predetermined point in the low. pressure system. Figure 6 is a view of aportion of the operating A further feature of'the invention resides in amechanism of one of the control devices, the

novel arrangement ofparts whereby the entire parts being shown indisassembled positions. '25

system after having been set in operation, will .While the system of thepresent invention .is.

continue automatically so longas steamis supcapable of use in connectionwith any type of plied at high pressure to the system. steam supply, Ihave chosento illustrate it as em- A further feature" of the inventionresides in I ployed in connection with a so-called commercial a novelcombination of pressure and temperature steamsystem in which steam isgenerated at any 00 operated mechanisms'fo'r controlling the supply of,suitable central point and distributed at high steam from a highpressure supply to a low pres-' pressure through street mains from whichit is sure distributing system; v j j taken off for use. In theaccompanying draw- A further feature of the invention resides in a i gs,Such a Street main designated by t e refnovel construction andarrangement of parts erence numeral l0 and'leading therefrom into a 35whereby the entire system may be cut out of opbuilding N, there is afeeder p p l2 terminating eration by a temperature control mechanism ina aut mat ally Operating Control Valve should an unexpected rise occurin atmosphere the specific construction of which will be heretemperatureto a point where the predetermined 'inafter described. This portion ofthe system V 40 operating pressure of the low pressure branch Will behereinafter referred to as the ig p 40 would maintain too high atemperature in the u e branch. area being'heated by the system. V 1Leading from the control valve [3, there is 2. Still a further featureof the invention resides pip line l4 rmin in i a m ri r l5 havin anovelheating system wherein vacuum pumps, jing' branches [6 from which extendrisers ll aror'other vacuum producing machinery, reducing ran d to suppy t a t the heating units 8,

valves and traps commonly employed and e esherein illustrated asradiators of a convention,- sary to the successful operation of largeinstalal type. The Sev at g units 3 are conlations,,are dispensed with.7 nected by pipes IS with a condensate line 28 ter- Still a furtherfeature of theinventionre sides minating in a preheater 2| from Which ad in a, novel heating system in which an even dice charge pipe 22 leadsto a sewer or drain 23, This 50 tribution of steam throughout the ar a,t b portion of the system will be hereinafter referred heated, is had. Vz ,to'as the low pressure branch. I V

Other. features of the invention relate to cer- Leading f th i p r ran h12 as tain novel and improved constructions, arranger at 24 there is apipe 25 which terminates as at 26 'ments and combinations of partshereinafter dein the low pressure branch of the'system and this portionof the system will be hereinafter referred to as the intermediatepressure branch.

The automatically operating control valve l3 hereinbefore referred to isshown in detail in Figure 2 and it comprises a valve housing 21 havingtwo seats 28 and 29 engaged respectively by valves 30 and 3| which arecarried by a valve stem 32 which projects from the housing 21 and isconnected to a yoke or similar member 33 mounted in a suitable housing34 and secured to the upper face of a diaphragm 35. Thejlower side ofthe housing 34 is'connected by means of a pipe 36 with the intermediatepressure branch 25 ot the system as at 3T.

This automatically operating control valve |;3 is of the balancedinverted type, and by examination of Figure 2 of the drawings, it willbeap'par ent that pressure upon the under side of the diaphragm 35 willoperate to unseat the valvesf tfl and 3| and discharge steam from thehigh pressure 1 branch l2 directly into the lowpressure branch. l4 atapproximately the pressureof steainin the" high pressure branch. Thesteam for operating.

said diaphragm 35 is obtained fromlthe'inten,

; mediate pressure branch and the desiredpressure tion thus cutting oiithe discharge of steam fr'o'r'n the high pressure branch to thelowpresfsure branch, this leverbecoming operative wh'erith'e pressure inthe intermediate pressure. bigness suitably reduced as will now bedescribedI The reference character 4| designates a pre sure operatedunit which, as illustrated in Figure's 4 and 5, comprises a housing 42havingfoneend closed by a cap 43 through which leads a pipe. 44 which isconnected at its other endto the low pressure branch as at H. The cap 43serve to secure a diaphragm 48 in position andthisdiaphragm carries anoperating button 48 which engages the nose56 of a lever v pivotallymount ed as at 52 in the housing 42. A spring 42; is interposed betweenthe outer face of. the diaphragm 48 and the cap 43. This lever 5|, hasalonglar'm 53 terminating in a hooked end 5'4 and is. slotted, as at 55,the slot being bridged by, a pin 56 which may if desired have a rollermountedtherfeon.

The nose 50 of the lever 5| is maintainediin en gagement with theoperating button '49 of the diaphragm 48 by a spring55' connected atone. end to the hooked end 54 of the lever 5| an at the other end to abolt 56 havingithreadedthereon a nut 51 by means of which theten sio'nof spring 55' may be adjusted. I

Pivotally mounted as at 58 in the housing 42, there is a rocking lever59 and this lever-I59 car-' ries a projecting stud 6|! whicheitendsthrough.

the housing as best illustrated in' Figure 4. The. lever is illustratedin dash lines inFig'ure 4 in one of its positions and in Figure 5 in itsother position, in. which latter position its'left. hand;

end is elevated, thus elevating the stud, will be apparent by comparisonof Figures. 3"andf 4. The lever 59 is held in the positionin which bythe housing 42.

By the construction just, deseribedg it willbe g i tion" thu as at 65there is a'spring' 6.6, the othergehdlofj which is connected to'apin'for the like 61. carried obvious that when the parts are in theposition in which they are showninFigure 4, the stud 65 will be held inits lower position by reason of the engagement of the cross-pin 56 inthe notch 64. When, however, the diaphragm 48 rocks the lever 5| to theposition in which it is shown in Figure 5, the spring 66 causes the camface 63 to ride the cross-pin 56. The spring 66 in pulling trigger 6| tothe right in Figure 5, causes a vertical movement of the trigger 6| insaid figure which vertical movement acts to rock the left hand endof'th'e lever 59'upwardly to raise the pin 60. On the other hand, as thespring 55 raises the lever 53, the cross-pin 56 riding the bottom edgeof the notch 64, eggerts a downward pull upon the trigger 6| which rocksthe lever 59, in the oppositedirection to lower the pin 60.

Thereference character designates. a valve interposed in'theintermediate pressure line 25, said'valve being mounted on the housing42 of the element 4|. As. best illustrated in Figure 4, this valve 16comprises a housing havingj'a seat 1| engaged by a valve member 1-2 to.closethe'valve. The. valve member 12 has. a valve stem' .13 providedwitha socket 14 in which is mounted a plunger between which and theclosed end wallof the. socket [4, there is a cushion spring 16. Thisplunger 15 rests. upon the stud 6Q ofthe lever 59; The valve. 12 is heldon its seat by pressure fromvthe. high. pressure branch and a spring'l'larid when closed prevents escape of r'r ssllr i th me iat r b n h,and'when moved from its seat, permits "the in- -.terme.diate.pressurebranch to, discharge directly into" the lo'w'pressure branch l4.s

thus. far described the. apparatus operates i ll w Assuming thattheapparatuscontains nostearn and is tobestartedirom the zero (0) point.The.

mastervalve 95 is opened and steam at'the high pressure carried in thestreet main. H1 is. intro.- duced' directlylnto. the intermediatepressure branch. 25,. At this. time, the. valve. l3 Will, be ed ne ag sbi ack of e s n h inter? mediate pressure branch andthe several parts ofthe pressure operated unit 4| will occupy the" 4, the rave 11, beingclosed.

The steam entering the intermediate pressure branch immediatelyv buildsup; pressure therein po 'tions' in which they are illustrated in Figure"since, thereisno escape pro ided for thisstearn i e. nte m d ate P ssurr hhe e pressure in the intermediate pressure branch becomessuif cienttoovercomefthe weight. 46, the diaphragm 3,5; operates. to lift saidweight and 'm'ovfethe valve L3 teitsopen position."Immediatelythev,a1ve, 3 opensthere is arush. of steam at: high essuredirectly, into the low pressure branch, t stea npassing clear tothefurther- .mostpo tionfof the low pressure branch. The

pressure inthe low pressure branchimmediately begins to build up andwhen it reaches the. pre-v determined value for whic h the spring issettheleveg andelevatethe stud as heretofore stea from the .h

sure operatesthe diaphragm 4.8 to .rock.

thermal element N34 is placed-in the condensate line 20 in such a mannerthat it will be directly affected by the temperature of the condensatein gins to fallgand the spring 55 immediately restores the several partsof the pressure operated unit M to that position shown in Figure inwhichposition, the. valve l2'wi1lbe closed and pressure begins again tobuild up inthe intermediate pressure branch to again operate the.

diaphragm 35 tojopen the valve I3 and efiect'another introduction ofsteam at high pressure into the low pressure branch which again'operates as" :described to close off the valve i3. 1

The above cycle of operation takes'but afew seconds to complete, theperiodicity of the cycle depending in part upon temperature and in partupon adjustments or the various parts such as is very short the severaloperations of each cycle take place exactly as describ'ed and the valve13 cis intermittently operated to introduce steam at high pressuredirectly into the low'p'ressu're branch I of' the system in impulses ofextremely shortduration. As the operation progresses and the temperatureof the area affected by the several heating units 58 rises, the pressurein the low pressure'branch will not fall as rapidly and the intervals atwhich the above described cycles are effected will n'aturally'be oflonger duration'but in any event, the adjustments will be such that the:desired temperature will be maintained.

From the foregoing description, it will be obviousthat the presentinvention 'providesa steam heating system in which steam is distributedin termittently in suflicient quantities to maintain desiredtemperatures and that all electrical and system operativeand'inoperative and this tem-' perature control is preferably whollyindependent of the pressure control apparatus. H

While the operation of the temperature control device maybe efiected orcontrolled by variations of temperature'at any given point or location,I' prefer to employthe'condensatetemperature and outside or atmospheretemperature in combination and in such a manner that each will aid theother in the control of the system.

To the attainment of these ends, I provide a valve I99, preferably ofthe double balanced type. This valve tilt is located as illustrated, inthe low pressure branch of the system and is so constructed and arrangedthat under normal operating temperatures, the valve will be maintainedopen to permit of the flow of steam therethrough to that part of the lowpressure system beyond the valve HIE! and will close'to prevent the flowof steam to the low pressure branch beyond the valve 500 whenpredetermined high temperatures at pie-determined locations in thesystem, are.

reached.

The valve 160 is preferably of a conventional type which will beoperated in one direction, (preferably opened) by a spring and closed byan expansible fluid which exerts a force upon the valve stem Hll.

The expansible fluid is carried in conduits Hi2 and IE3 preferably ofconventional type and each tube has a thermal unit they being hereindesignated I04 and M5 respectively.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the

said line, the'thermal unit E05 being so located that it is directlyaffected by outside tempera tures. I 7

'By the arrangement described above should the temperature of thecondensate rise or the outside temperature rise, or both, the thermalunits P will operate to effect an expansion ofthe fluid in theconduits-I92 and 03 and operate to partially or completely close thevalve its depending" upon the rise of temperature; The valve I06 and itscontrols being independent of the valve 21, the valve- 21 functions asdescribed, the supply .of steam in front of the'valve' I to being at'alltimes the same, the valve H10, however, controlling by its position, thequantity of steam distributedthrough'the low pressure branch of thesystem."

Thus it will be apparent that when the temperature control isfunctioning, steam at substantially street main pressure is circulatedthrough theflow pressure branch of the system when the valve E06iscornpletely open and that even though steam at full street-mainpressure is introduced into the low pressure branch of the system, whenthe valve 1 Eli is partially closed, a correspondingly lesser pressurewill be circulated through the'low pressure branch.

From theforegoing, it will be readily apparent that the' presentinvention provides a new'and improved system of steam distribution whichis highly efiicient in operation and which will maintain desiredtemperatures with minimum steam consumption.

While the invention has been herein illustrated in its preferred form,it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to the specificconstruction in which it is shown particularly with respect to thespecific types of pressure and thermal devices herein illustrated sincesuch devices may be employed invarious. forms within the scope of thepresent invention.

'Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and What itis desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A steam controlling system including a high pressure branch, a lowpressure branch and an intermediate pressure branch, a valve forcontrolling'ithe flow of steam from the high pressure branch to the lowpressure branch at the pressurepresent in said high pressure branch,means operated by fluctuations of pressure in the intermediate pressurebranch for opening and closing said valve, and pressure operated meansfor producing fluctuations in pressure in said intermediate pressurebranch.

2. A steam controlling system including a high pressure branch, a lowpressure branch and an intermediate pressure branch, a valve forcontrolling the flow of high pressure steam from the high pressurebranch to the low pressure branch at the pressure in the high pressurebranch, means operated by fluctuationsof pressure in the intermediatepressure branch for opening and closing said valve, and means operatedby a pre-determined pressure in the low pressure branch for producingfluctuations in pressure in the intermediate pressure branch.

3. A steam controlling system including )a high pressure branch, a lowpressure branch and an intermediate pressure branch a valve forcontrolling the flow of high pressure steam from the high pressurebranch to the low pressure branch at the pressure in the high pressurebranch,

means operated by fluctuations of pressure in the intermediate pressurebranch foropening. closing said valve, and means operated by apredetermined pressure in the low pressure branch for producing.fluctuations in pressure in the intermediate pressure branch andincluding means for discharging pressure from theintermediate pressurebranch, into the low pressure branch.

4. A steam controlling system including. a high pressure branch, a lowpressure branch and an intermediate pressure branch connecting the highpressure, branch with the low pressure branch, a valve in saidintermediate pressure branch to alternately establish and cut offcommunication between the intermediate pressure branch'and. the lowpressure branch to produce fluctuations of pressure in the intermediatepressure branch, a valve-operated by the fluctuationsin pressure in theintermediate pressure branch for establishing and cutting off directcommunication between the high pressure branch and the low pressurebranch and for admitting steam to the low pres.-

I sure branch at the pressure of the high pressure branch, and pressureoperated means for operating the valve in intermediate pressure branch.

5. A steam controlling system including a high pressure branch, a lowpressure branch and an intermediate pressure branch connecting the highpressure branch with the low pressure branch, a valve in saidintermediate pressure branch to alternately establish and cut oficommunication between the intermediate pressure branch andthe lowpressure branch to produce fluctuations of pressure in the intermediatepressure branch, a valve operated by the fluctuations in pressure in theintermediate pressure branch for establishing and cutting ofi directcommunication between the high pressure branch and the low pressurebranch to. admit steam at the pressure of the high pressure branch tothe low pressure branch, and. pressure operated means for operating thevalve in intermediate pressure branch, said last mentioned means beingoperated by pre-determined pressure in the low pressure branch. i

6. In a steam controlling system, a high pressure branch, a low pressurebranch and an intermediate pressure branch, said intermediate pressurebranch having communication with both the high and low pressurebranches, a valve sepain closed position, means operable by pressure in"the intermediate pressure branch for moving said valve to open positionupon presence. of a predetermined pressure in the intermediate pressurebranch, and means, operated by a predetermined pressure in the lowpressure branch for releasing the pressure in the intermediate pressurebranch and permitting the valve between the high pressure branch and thelow pressure branch to move to closed position.

'7. In a steam heating system, a high pressure branch, at low pressurebranch and an intermediate pressurebranch, a valve interposed betweenthe high pressure branch and the low pressure branch, said valve servingto establish communication between the high pressure: branch and the lowpressure branch when the valve is open and to cut off such communicationwhen the valve is closed, mechanically operated means for moving saidvalve normally to its closed position, pressure operated means operatedby the building up of a predetermined pressure in the. intermediate.pressure branch for movingsaid valve. to its open position, and meansresponsive to pressure in the low pressure branch of the system forefiecting a reduction of pressure in the intermediate pressurebranchtopermit movement of the valve. toits closed position by saidmechanically operated means.

8. In a steam heating system, a high pressure steam supply line, a lowpressure branch, a valve interposed between the supply line and the lowpressure branch, said valve adapted to admit steam tothe lowpressurebranch from the supply line at a pressure not lower than the pressurepresent in the supply line, and means for intermittently operating saidvalve, said last mentioned means including an intermediate pressurebranch connected to both the supply line and the low pressure branch,pressure responsive means actuated by a predetermined pressure in theintermediate pressure branch for opening the valve between. the, supplyline and the low pressure branch to admit a charge of steam at apressure not lower than the pressure of the supply line to the lowpressure branch, means responsive to a predetermined pressure in the lowpressure branch for effecting a reduction of pres.-

sure, in the intermediate pressure branch, and

means for closing. the valve between the supply line and the lowpressure branch upon reduction of pressure in the intermediate pressurebranch.

' ARTHUR LUTH.

